Nut-tapping machine



3 Sheets-Shet l Nov. 13, 1928.

H. E. PRUITT NUT TAPPING MACHINE Filed nec. 24, 192e Nov. 13, 1928.

H. E. PRUlTT NUfi1 TAPPING MACHINE Filed Dele. 24, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 13, 1928..

H. E. PRUITT NUT TAPPING MACHINE .'5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 24, 1926 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Nov.v 13, 11928. .A

PATENT OFFICE.

' E. IPRUITT, 0F FENTON, MICHIGAN.

Application Bled December 24, 1926. Serial No. 156,848.

This-invention relates to a nut tapping machine, andhas forvits object to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a` machine of such class for expeditiously tapping nuts and for the automatic discharge of the tapped nuts during the tapping operation.

VFurther objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a

nut tapping machine which is comparatively.

simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly eiicient and convenient in its use, readily assembled and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the vforegoing and other objectsin view the invention consists in the novel con struction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodimentA housing 1, through the bearin v'sleeves 17 and of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modiiications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the ldrawings wherein' like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan v1ew of a nut tapping machine in-accordance with this invention. l

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-,2 .Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a'section on line 3-'3 Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1 denotes avertically disposed support, which is' latter in close prximity to the side wall 8.

of the housing. The rear wall of thehousing is indicated at 9 and the front wall at 10. The

side wall 7 near its upper end is provided with A an opening 11, positioned in alinement with,

an opening 12 formed in the side wall 8. The

4 o gs 11 and 12 are positioned in aral-y controlled workV .which are to be tapped, in a direction towards 26, aswell as with the transverse median of t e top 4. Secured to the inner face of the side wall 7 at 'the top thereof, is a flanged collar 13 which alines with a flanged collar 14 secured to the inner face of the side wall 8 near the top thereof. The flanges of each of said collars are indicated 4at 1-5 and extending'theref througharegholdfast devices 16 which fixedly secure the collars to the side walls 7 and 8. Arranged within each of said collars is a bearing sleeve 17 having its inner face iiush with the wall of an opening 11 or 12. Each collar, centrallyv of its top is provided with a port 18 which registers withl an opening 19 formed in-a bearing-sleeve .17. Extending through the opening 5, as well as the opening 6, is a lubricant supply device 20 land which projects in and is secured in a port 18, and said devices provide means for lubricating the operating shaft 21 of the machine.

The shaft 21 extends transversely of the projects fromthe side walls and 8. That c nd of the shaft21 which projects from the slde wall 8 is provided with a driving means therefor, indicatedat 22 and which is adapted to `be connected to aprirne mover.

That end of the shaft 21 which projects from the side wall 7'extends into a tool carrier 23 of any suitable construction and which 1s secured stationary to the wall 7. As shown the holdfast devices 16, whichvsecure the colflar 13 to the side wall 7 are employed for se curingthe tool carrier 23 in a statlonar position. The tool carrier has extended t erefrom a pairof taps 24, 25 and .which are arranged in spaced relatlon and the carrier 23 -1s provided with any suitablemeans, operated from the shaft 21 for the purpose of revolving the taps. As before stated the carrier 23 can be of any known construction and the taps 24, 25V driven` from the shaft 21 by any suitable means. The shaft 21, intermediate its ends is provided with a worm 26 and which is arranged within the housing 1. The

worm 26 is emplo ed for operating a spring ed for shifting the nuts,

the taps 24, 25 and associated with the worm driven thereby, isa worm gear 27.. carried by a shaft 28 extending horizon-f tally of the housing 1, and which is journaled at one end, in a bearing 29 secured to the rear wall 9 and at its other end in a bearing 30 secured to the front wall 10. The shaft 28 between the worm gear 27 and one end thereof, carries a shifting arm 3l, which is secured intermediate its ends, by the set screw 32 to the shaft 28, and the latter is provided between the worm gear 27 and the other end thereof with ashifting arm 32', secured 1ntermediate its ends by a set screw 33 to the shaft.

The machine further includes a combined intermittently operated nut support and f eed comprising a pair of spaced, slidable, sprlng. controlled supporting rods 34, 35 and each of which is slidably mounted in a pair of opposed flan ed collars 36, 37 secured respectively'b t e holdfast devices 38 to the innery faceso the side walls 7, 8. The collar 36 re isters with an opening 39 formed in the si e wall 7 and the collar 37 registers with an opening 40 formed in the side wall 8. Each rod is of polygonal cross section. The rods project a substantial distance from the side walls 7 of the housing 1.

Each supporting rod at a point in prox- .imity to the collar 3 7 has secured thereto by the 'set lscrew 41'an adjustable stop collar 42, and mounted on the rod and interposed between the collars 37 and 42, is a coil controlling spring 43 which tends to normally project the rod from the side wall 8. The rod at apoint between the collars 36 and 42 has secured therewith by the set screw 44, a sleeve 45, having an offset 46, which is intermittently engaged by an arm 31 or 32 for shifting the rod towards the side wall .8 of the housing Lagainst the action of the spring 43.

Each of the supporting rods, at that end thereof arrangedexteriorly of'the side wall 7 of the housing 1has secured thereto, by the set screw .47, a. vertically disposed arm `48, having its lower portion provided with an openi 49 from which extends the supportin roIdg. The arm 48 at its upper end is provi ed with a right an ularly disposed bar 50 which extends towar s the side wall 7 of the A housing 1. Mounted on each supporting rod between the arm 48 and the side wall 7 of the housin ,is a polygonal shaped sleeve 51 having a ange 52 at one end thereof, and which is arranged adjacentto the opening 39. Surrounding each supporting rod and interposed between the flange 52 and the sidewall 7 of the housing 1, is a coil controllin spring 53 for the sleeve 51. Mounted on eac sleeve 51,

is a verticallyv disposed carrier, 54, having 'a ly onal shaped `'opening 55 in' its lower end or t e passage of the. sleeve 51. The-opening 55 corresponds in contour to the contour of the sleeve 51 and the latter and carrier 54 are secured together by the set screw 56. The

' supporting rod is shdably mounted in the sleeve 51. Connected tothe lower end'of the' held. by the ta carrier 54, by the set screw 56, is a depending guidepicce 57, which travels in a guide groove 58, formed in the upper face of a late 59, secured to the bottom of a receptac e which projects laterally from the side wall 7 of they housing 1 and is supported by a brace element 61, secured to the side wall 7, by the holdfast devices 62.

The carrier 54 is interposed between the carrier 23 and the arm 48 and is spaced a-substantial distance from the latter. The carrier side of the carrienand which is the outer side thereof. Securedv in the groove 63` and extending above the carrier 54 is a vertically disposed nut guide 65-of channel-shaped cross section and which has the openside thereof formed with oppositely disposed inwardly extending flanges 66. The nut guide .projects from the grooved face of the carrier 54. The nuts are indicated at 67 and rfeedfby gravity to a position to be acted upn by the ttaps 24, 25. Oneside of the guide 66 terminates at the upper wall 68 of the groove 64 `and the yother side 'of the guide'66 terminates at the lower wall 69 of the groove 64.

Each guide 66 is provided with an opening 70, whichalines with a ta per, and extending from the guide 65, as wel as registering with the opening 70 and projecting through the carrier 54, in a direct1on towards the arm 48, is a tubular member 71, having its outer end flanged as at 72. Mounted on the bar 50 and interposed between the flange 72 and the arm' 48, is a coil controlling spring 73 to assist in restoring the arm 48 to normal position.`

Arranged within the lowei` portion of each carrier 54, is a, combined nut positioning, holding and releasing memberv 74, which is' pivotally connected at its lower endras at 75, and has associated therewith a' controlling spring 76 which is positioned within the carrier 54. The "upper portion of the member 74 is oset, as indicated at 77 and which acts as a means to support the lower one of the-nuts 67, such lower nutV having, been tapped. The member 74 is shifted from holding position with respect to the tapped nut, so that' the latter can fall into the receptacle 60, by a `Shiftingbar 78, which projects from the wall 7, of housing 1 and 1s positioned inthe path of the carrier 54, and 'by this arrangement whenthe carrier 54-moves towards. the vwall 7, therbar 78 will shift the member 74 to the; dotted line position shown in Fi re 3 and the tapped nut will be releasebut the nut above the tapped nut will be held by the tap and by the txmethe'nut 1s released therefrom the e positloned in the full line member 74 w1 showing, Figure 3 so as to hold the tapped nut until the carrier 54 has been shifted forwardly during the tapping operation.

The flanges 66 prevent the nuts from falling out or being pulled out the groove 63 until a tapped nut has reached the discharge groove 64. The construction provides for simultaneously tapping and discharging tw'o tapped nuts. The rods 34, 35 move the arms 48 towards the carriers 54 against the action of .the cushioning spring 73 and when the Y arms 48 move forwardly, they provide for the shifting of the carriers 54 towards the tappers. The bars 50, in connection lwith the tubular members 71 act as guides for the arms 48 with respect tothe carrlers 54. When the carriers 54 move forwardly, suchaction is had against their controlling springs 53, whereby when the nuts are released from the taps, said carriers 54vwill be shifted rearwardly on the rods 34, 35. When the carriers 54 movc forwardly the rods or members 78 will shift the members 7 4 to non-holding position with respect to the tapped nuts so that these latter can be discharged into the receptacle 60. When the shifting arms 31 and 32 move clear of the offset 46, on the sleeves 45, the springs 43 will shiftthe rods..

34, 35 rearwardly carrying the arms 48 therewith, and when the nuts are released from the tappers the springs 53 will {shift the sleeves 51 rearwardly on the rods 34, 35 carrying the carriers 54 therewith and the movement of these latter will be guided by the depending guides 57 traveling in the grooves 58 .It is thought that the many advantages of a nut tapping machine, in accordance withl this invention, can be readily understood and although the preferred embodiment vof the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can'be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

l. A nut tapping machine comprising a pair of spring controlled shiftahle nut carriers, each carrier being provided with a vertically disposed nut guide terminating at its lower end in an outwardly extending downwardly inclined discharge groove for the nut, an intermittently operable spring controlled work feed for shifting the carriers against ythe action of their controlling springs in a ported on said work feed, and shiftable nut riers, each carrier being provided with a verlower end in an outwardly extending down- Vwardly inclinedfdisch'arge groove for' the'nut,

an intermittently operable spring controlled work feed for shifting the carriers against the action of their controlling springs in a direct-ion to position a pair of nuts to bel tapped, said carriers being slidably supported on said work feed, shiftable nut holding means mounted in the lower ends of the carriers for normally holding the tapped nuts within the carriers and adapted when shifted from normal position to permit of discharge of the tapped nuts, tap means, and a. common operating means for said work f'eed and tap means.

3. A nut tapping machine CQlIlprising a pair of spring controlled shiftable nut carriers, each carrier being rovided with a vertically disposed nut gui e'tel'minating at its lower end in an outwardly extending downwardly inclined discharge groove forthe nut an intermittently operable spring controlled work feed for shifting the carriers against the action of their controlling springs in a direction to position a pair of nuts to be tapped, said carriers being slidably sup= ported on said work feed, shiftable nut holding means mounted in the lower ends of the carriers .for normally holding the tapped nuts within the carriers and adapted when shifted from normal position to permit of discharge of the'tapped nuts, and means extending into the nut carriers for shifting said nut holding means from normal position.

4. A nut tapping machine comprising a pair of spring controlled shiftable nut carriers, each carrier being provided with a vertically disposed nut guide terminating at its lower end in an outwardly extending down'- wardly inclined dischargel groove for the nut,

an intermittently operable spring controlled work feed for shifting the carriers against the action of their controlling springs in a direction to position a pair of nuts to betapped',

llOj

said carriers being slidably supported on said tapped nuts. supporting means for said work feed, means carried by said supporting means and adapted to extend into the carriers for forcing said holding means from normal position, and a receptacle carried by Said supporting-means and adapted to receive the tapped nuts. v

5. A nut tapping machine comprising a pair of spring controlled slidably mounted nut carriers, each carrier being provided with :a vertically disposed nut guide terminating at its lower end in an outwardly extending downwardly inclined discharge groove for the tapped nuts, an intermittently operable spring controlled work feed including means mally holding the nutsrwithin the and engagingwith the carriers for shifting them adapted when shifted from normal position: against t e action of their controlling springs to permit of the discharge of the tappednnts; in a direction to position a pair of nuts to be and operatingmeans for saidwork fe'edg y tapped, said carriers being slidably lsupport- In testimony whereof,-I ax my signature ed on saidwork feed, shiftable means mounthereto. 1 w ed in the lower ends of the carrirs f or nor- HARVEY E. 

